Hump Day Hoopla: Meet the State Press sports staff

Cameron Eickmeyer, junior

It is officially Hump Day and as promised this is the official Hump Day Hoopla. I am sports editor for this semester and would like to introduce both myself, and the rest of the sports staff.

I am a junior, majoring in journalism, and have worked at The State Press since last semester. Last fall, I covered the volleyball team and the men's and women's swimming and diving teams. I will continue to cover these squads while serving as sports editor. ASU sports is always interesting and we here on the sports desk hope to keep our page the same.

Chris Gabel, senior

I'm back for a second tour of duty with The State Press, but that's enough about me.

My thoughts on sports: the Raiders will win the Super Bowl; LeBron James gets too much hype; Kobe Bryant is better that Tracy McGrady; Jake Plummer isn't coming back to the Cardinals; the Lakers won't make the NBA playoffs; Amare Stoudemire is a man-child and should be co-Rookie of the Year with Yao Ming; referees have been in the news way too much recently and Anna Kournikova should quit tennis and concentrate on a full-time modeling career.

Chris Drexel, sophomore

After an eventful fall semester that saw the football team make a turnaround, Andrew Walter emerge into a star and my editor being canned; it's time for more. This semester I will cover: Charli's Angels defending their Pac-10 championship led by a pack of slick freshmen, the softball team riding the hot bats of Phelan Wright and Kara Brun back to the College World Series and another session of spring football...with no questions as to who is the starting quarterback.

Let me add that the Cardinals are fools if they let Jake the Snake go and Keith Tkachuk is the best hockey player crashing creases today.

Damien Tippett, senior

This is my third semester with The State Press, and since I don't see too many of you loyal readers sticking with this article too much longer, I figure I ought to make it a little interesting.

My duties here include covering our wrestling team - something that until this year I knew nothing about and never wanted anything to do with. Yea, I did my share of time on the baseball field way back when I wasn't the lush I am today, but come on, those wrestlers are beasts. I think you have to respect the love of the game that athletes show, and that's why I do this. We're all fans here, and covering a new "genre" of sport does nothing but bring respect and admiration to those who sacrifice their own well being for something they believe in.

Casey Pritchard, senior

Back for my third semester at The State Press sports desk, I've worked through the ranks and will cover the prestigious ASU baseball team this semester. In addition I will contribute stories for the men's golf team in their pursuit to recapture their status as a golf powerhouse. It should be another exciting year for ASU athletics.

Andrew Bernick, senior

Howdy! After a stint on the city desk last semester, the newspaper Gods blessed me with the chance to cover ASU men's basketball. Head coach Rob Evans has a solid team this year that's looking to make the tourney for the first time since 1995.

About me: I'm a journalism senior from Los Angeles and a big time Lakers/Dodgers/ Raiders fan. I predict the Raiders will destroy the Bucs on Sunday, the Lakers will rebound for another championship and the Dodgers, well, they'll always suck. But that's okay, as long as the Yankees lose.

Kelley Karnes, sophomore

Hey! I am the newest member of the sports staff and I will be covering men's and women's tennis and gymnastics. Gymnastics has some great leaders this season and some new freshmen that are going to make their debut.

I am a journalism sophomore raised in Phoenix. All I can say to Bernick is that the Yankees rule. It should be interesting being stuck on a staff of all males, but we will see how well my sanity holds up. It's a whole new type of survivor.